Pull for sliding glass panels



7, 194. E. M. BORCHERS 2,447,39

PULL FOR SLIDING GLASSPANELS v Filed June 7, 194'? Patented Aug. 17, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE American Cabinet Hardware Corporation,

Rockford, Illinois, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 7, 1947, Serial No. 753,2.62

7 Claims. 1

The present invention pertains to door pulls and more particularly to pulls for sliding glass door panels.

In the construction of Sliding glass door panels the common practice has been to form a recess adjacent the edge of the glass panel to provide a shoulder for engagement by the fingers of the operator. The formation of such a recess requires an additional costly operation upon the glass, and moreover, since such panels are comparatively thin, the shoulder surface provided is too small for an adequate finger hold.

Generally stated it is an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages in the provision of a pull for a sliding glass panel which is simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a pull of resilient material for installation on a sliding glass panel adjacent one edge thereof and having portions disposed on opposite surfaces of the panel forming clamping elements for effectually gripping the panel therebetween notwithstanding the hard, smooth surface of the panel.

The objects of the invention thus generally set forth, together with other and ancillary advantages, are attained by the construction and arrangement shown by Way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of a door pull constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the pull.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is an end view showing the pull in fully installed position.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the pull in partially installed condition.

Fig. 7 is an end view of the pull.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that it is not thereby intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed, but it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a door pull comprising a substantially U-shaped member -i ll of resilient material adapted to be slipped over an edge of a glass panel I I and so constructed as to provide a firm, frictional grip upon the panel notwithstanding the smooth, hard character of the surface thereof. In the present instance, the member It is made of resilient material such as spring steel and comprises front and rear legs I2 and I3 and a connecting or bight portion I I. A fingerpiece I5 is provided on the front leg I2 and comprises, in the present instance, an elongated rib pressed outwardly therefrom.

To provide a firm, frictional grip on the hard, smooth surface of the glass, the rear leg I3 of the member ID is constructed to provide spring gripping means or clamping elements for coaction with the front leg I2 in gripping the panel II. As shown, the pull is made of substantial width in a direction longitudinally of the edge of the panel to which it is applied and the spring gripping means preferably comprises two spring fingers It struck from the rear leg I3 and. spaced apart to provide contact with the glass at relatively spaced points.

To permit installation of the pull on a glass panel and to avoid chipping of its edges, the spring fingers I6 are made relatively long and each is provided with a cam surface. In the present instance, the fingers are extended in trailing relation to the direction of movement of the pull in its installation on the panel and each is depressed slightly toward the front leg I2, thus providing a long gently sloping cam surface IBa for contact with the rear edge of the panel as the pull is pressed into its installed position thereon, and a tip portion IB b bearing on the fiat surface 4 of the panel in the installed position of the pull.

Glass panels are normally provided with beveled edges for purposes of safety and advantage is taken of this feature to assist in the installation of the pull on such a panel, the cam surface I6a provided on the spring finger I6 coacting with the beveled edge to cam the fingers thereover.

So that the outer edge of the rear leg l3 ofthe pull will contact the glass, the bight portion I4 of the pull is made slightly larger than the thickness of the panel II, and the rear leg I3 is bent slightly toward the front leg I2. In order to prevent marring of the rear surface of the glass by movement of the tips of the spring fingers I6 thereover, the tip portions IBb thereof are turned slightly outward.

To facilitate application of the pull to the edge of the panel. the front leg I2 is made of slightly greater length than that of the rear leg I3. Thus, the space between the front and back legs I2 and 3 I 3 of the pull can be readily positioned opposite the edge of the panel.

To install the pull on the glass panel, the extended portion of the front leg is placed against the front surface of the door thereby properly positioning the pull so that it can be pressed over the panel edge. ,As the movement toward installed position progresses, the bases of the spring fingers 16 contact the bevel edge of the glass the spring fingers are cammed thereover. When the pull reaches its final position, the tip 16b of the fingers press against the rear surfaceof theglass panel, the bight portion lies against the edgeof the panel and the front leg lies :flat against the front surface of the door.

From the foregoing therefore, it can be seen that a pull for a sliding glass panel constructed in accordance with the present invention provides a firm, frictional grip upon the panel notwithstanding the smooth, hard character of the surfaces thereof. The provision of gently sloping cam surfaces on the fingers of the pull permits its ready installation upon the panel-without clan. ger of chipping the edges thereof. The provision of two spring clamping fingers has been found desirable because it insures a more uniform frictional gripping force at opposite ends of the pull and thus tends to prevent twisting of the pull relative to the panel. The fingerpiece is sufi'iciently large to permit firmgrasping by the fingers of the operator and eliminates the danger of injury thereto if the operators fingers had to contact the glass. Finally, a pullso constructed can be positioned atany point on the edge of the panel and its location can be readily changed a desired.

Iclaim as my invention:

1..A pull for a sliding glass panel comprising,

4 her having front and back legs and a bight portion, said front leg having an integrally formed fingerpiece thereon and said back leg having a spring finger struck therefrom and extending toward said bight portion, said front leg and said finger constituting clamping elements for frictional engagement with said panel.

4. A pull for a sliding glass panel comprising,

in combination, a Substantially U-shaped memher having front and back le s and a bight portion, said front leg having an integrally formed .fingerpiece thereon and said back leg having a springfinger struck therefrom and extending to..

ward. Said bight portion, said front leg and said finger constituting clamping elements for frictional engagement with said panel, and said front leg being of slightly greater length than said. rearileg thereby providing a locating means for positioning said pull for installation upon thepanel. Apull for a sliding glass panel comprising, in combination, a long U-shaped member of resilient .material having front and back legs and a bight portion, said front leg having a fingerp ecejthereonand being adapted to lie fiat against the front surface of the .panel and said .rear leg having spaced spring clamping fingers struck therefrom, said fingers being slightly depressed toward said front leg and providing cam surfaces of gentle slope for engagement with the edge of the panel to direct thefingers thereover upon installation of the pull. I

i6. A pull for a sliding glass panel comprising,

in combination, a substantially U-shaped memin combination, a u-shaped member of resilient material having front and back legs and a bight portion connecting .saidlegs in spaced relation for the reception of a panel therebetween, said front leg having an integrally formed fingerpiece thereon, and .a ,spring clamping finger struck from said back leg and providing a cam surface for engagement with the rear surface of the panel upon installation of. the pull, said front leggand said spring finger coacting to hold the pull in firm, frictional engagement withthe panel.

2. A poll for a sliding glass panel comprising, incombination, a 'U-shaped member of resilient material having front and back legs anda bight portion connecting said legs in spaced relation forthe reception of a panel .therebetween, said front leg having an integrally formed fingerpiece thereon, and two sprin clamping fingers struck from said back leg in spaced apart relation and providing cam surfaces for engagement with the her of resilient material having front and back legs and a bight portion, said front leg having a fingerpiece thereon and being adapted to lie fiat against thefront surface of the panel and sa'idrear leg having a plurality of spring clamping fingers struck therefrom in spaced relation to each other and extending toward said bight portion and-terminating in spaced relation thereto,'s'aid fingers being slightly depressed toward said front leg and providing cam surfaces of gentle slope'for engagement with the edge of the panel to direct the fingers thereover upon installation of the pull.

7. A pull for a sliding glass panel comprising, in combination; a t l-shaped member of high carbon spring steel'having front and back legs and a bight "portion, one of said legs being adapted to lie flat against one surface of the panel and the other of said legs having a spring finger struck therefrom and extending in trailing relare'ar surface of the panel upon installation of the pull, said front leg and said spring fingers coacting to hold the pull infirm, frictional engagement with the panel.

3. A pull for a sliding glass panel comprising,

in combination, a substantially 'tl-shaped memtion to the direction of movement of the pull up- "on its installation on the panel, said spring finger providing a cam surface of gentle slope for engagement with the edge of the panel to direct the spring finger thereover upon installation of the pull and bearing on the surface of the panel adjacent its edge when the pull is in installed position.

' EARL M. BORCHERS. 

